Perennial flowers ( How to Select, Purchase & Plant )
Eudora DeWynter Perennial flowers will provide your garden with a huge variety if colors, shapes and types. Though they tend to have a shorter blooming period usually 2 to 4 weeks, if and when you design and plant your flowers correctly you can have blooms from spring through fall. The main advantage of planting perennial flowers is that you don't have to plant them every year. Consideration as to how it looks before and after it blooms should also be taken into account. Planting annuals along with perennials will give a show of color all through the growing season. As with any planting consider your site first, the amount of sunlight needed ( at least 6 hours ) the soil type, moisture needed, drainage and how you want your layout to look, remember these plants will be left out during winter. Keep in mind that shady spots around trees and shrubs will cause plants to compete with their roots for much needed moisture. Even with the best preparing tree roots are deeply in-bedded and shrub roots will grow back. Avoid areas that are problem weed areas, making sure it is well cultivated from weed by using a herbicide or cover with heavy clear plastic and re-soil the area before planting. Avoid planting also in an area where you know small children will be playing. Perennials can stand a wet site for a short period of time, but most will die from their roots being to wet, so avoid low lying areas that tend to have standing water. Any plant will fair better in rich well drained soil and always incorporate mulch and compost into the soil before you plant. When choosing your plants, select plants that are showy and bloosomy as well as those that will bloom and blend well with them. Plants can be purchase from nurseries and garden centers. Plants that are packaged in cell packs tend to grow into the ground quicker and are less expensive, just keep them moist until you plant because they will dry out quicker. Try and avoid buying and planting plants that are in bloom, a plant in bloom is not always the best time to be transplanted. When transplanting try and plant on cool over cast days and if this is not possible try and provide some shade to the plants. Please avoid hot, humid windy days whenever possible. Soak bare root flowers in water at least ½ hour before planting. Container grown plants should be watered before removing them to be planted. When planting make sure the soil is loosened then fill the hole and press the soil lightly around the plant making sure the crown line is at the soil line. To stimulate root growth soak the soil with a mixture of liquid fertilizer and water ( follow manufacturer's directions ). Water plants frequently until they become well established. One tip on purchasing, avoid plants that are dried out or have yellow or pale green leaves and stems, they tend not to do well. Below are a few suggestions on what might look well in your perennial garden. Asters, Astibe, Bleeding Heart, Columbine, Daylilies, Foxglove, Hollyhocks, Lily of the Valley, Sweet William and Yarrow About the Author
Eudora DeWynteroffers tips on Perennial Flowerson her blog athttp:www.gardentoolguru.com Eudora DeWynter may be contacted at http://www.gardentoolguru.com. Click here to view more articles by Eudora DeWynter. Reprinted with Permission from IdeaMarketers.com
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